After nearly two decades of head coach Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers are starting over with new head coach Mike McCarthy, a whole new system and several new starters. Optimism is high and fans feel like there's been a new energy with the team and so let's offer up our own bold predictions for the upcoming season.
We aren't ready to name the two players but between the team's three big edge defenders and defensive linemen Cam Heyward and Derrick Harmon, we predict the Steelers to get at least two players with 10+ sacks.
Time is almost out for Joey Porter Jr. to agree to terms on a contract with the Steelers but we predict Porter Jr. still plays in 2026, even if it is on his rookie contract.
Between Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, the Steelers have a very good two-headed running back attack. And while we think the run game will be effective, we don't see either player eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards individually.
With the team's new additions, we predict DK Metcalf will reap the benefits with his best season. Metcalf's career high in receptions is 90 and his receiving yards are 1,303. We predict Metcalf tops both this season.

#season #mike #players

Fans only need to wait 13 more days until the Steel City brand of football returns when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Atlanta Falcons on September 13. In the spirit of the countdown to kickoff, we'll take a look at the most recent and best players to ever wear No. 13.
Dowdle, who signed with the Steelers this offseason, is the current No. 13 wearer on the Steelers' roster.
Rico Dowdle, 2026-present
Scotty Miller, 2024-2025
Miles Boykin, 2022-2023

#dowdle #fans #falcons

By Sunday evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers will trim their 90-man training camp roster down to just 53 players. We decided to ask AI to make a roster prediction to see if it can get it right and where the algorithm stands on the idea of the Steelers keeping four quarterbacks on the roster. In this simulation, the AI
Offense (25)Quarterbacks (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew AllarRunning Backs (3): Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis HomerWide Receivers (6): DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek, Kaden WetjenTight Ends / Fullback (4): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski (FB)Offensive Line (9): Troy Fautanu, Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker, Max IheanachorDefense (25)Defensive Line (6): Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Gabriel RubioOutside Linebackers (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack SawyerInside Linebackers (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Carson BruenerCornerbacks (6): Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen EveretteSafeties (4): DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Rayshawn Jenkins, Robert Spears-JenningsSpecial Teams (3)Kicker (1): Chris BoswellPunter (1): Cameron JohnstonLong Snapper (1): Christian Kuntz
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Asking AI to predict the Steelers 53-man roster

#steelers #line #sunday

The clock is ticking loudly at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College, and second-year running back Kaleb Johnson may already be running out of time.
Selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Iowa, Johnson was once viewed as a potential future fixture in Pittsburgh's backfield. However, as training camp practice number 13 wrapped up on Sunday, the 23-year-old found himself buried on the depth chart, not just behind proven starters Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, but behind journeymen and practice-squad regulars.
In Pittsburgh's preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, Johnson saw minimal work, logging just two carries for three yards. Instead, backup snaps went to NFL veteran Travis Homer and second-year back Lew Nichols.
Steelers reporter Christopher Carter shared his hopes that the low volume was merely part of an early-preseason rotation on his "Locked on Steelers" podcast. However, he added that his hopes had quickly faded during team periods in Latrobe.
"Kaleb Johnson really didn't see any action. He saw I think what two, five snaps overall. He get two carries for three yards. He was out there after Travis Homer and after Lew Nichols," noted Carter.

#homer #carter

Just a few days ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their 2026 season with an impressively lopsided 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. While we must acknowledge that neither team featured its star players, nor the type of playcalling we can expect once the games start to count for real, it's also hard to introduce yourself to a new fanbase in a more impressive fashion than Mike McCarthy and his staff did on Thursday night.
This is going to be quite a meaty post with several clips to share and examine, so let's not beat around the bush. The following are highlights and lowlights of my impressions from the game. If any of these clips inspire some curiosity, or if you have any insights to add to the conversation, remember to get down in the comments section and join the conversation.
There's going to be a lot of positives we'll look at from this game, so let's start off with a dose of negativity before we wash things down with what went well.
The Steelers offensive line got off to a tough start on Thursday before settling in once both teams' reserves took over. Collectively, the Steelers allowed 10 pressures and 3 sacks in pass protection. Four of those pressures were at the hands of the starting lineup — Troy Fautanu (2), Mason McCormick (1), and Dylan Cook (1) — and a fifth pressure was credited to running back Travis Homer, who started the game with both Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle in street clothes for this game. The rushing attack managed just 2.7 yards per carry. And Fautanu was tagged for both a false start penalty and an offensive holding call.
It certainly wasn't a pristine showing for the unit.

#steelers #start #conversation

The Pittsburgh Steelers have historically held a "Friday Night Lights" practice during training camp but this year the team was forced to move it to Saturday. It didn't stop nearly 10,000 fans from showing up to get a closer look at the team as they head into prep for the team's first preseason game.
Here are the winners and losers from Saturday's practice.
With every deep completion Allar throws, he endears himself more and more to the fanbase and puts pressure on Will Howard. Allar has made up all the ground he lost to Howard in minicamp and frankly has overtaken him in terms of optimism that he can be the team's starting quarterback at some point.
Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson both had fumbles on Saturday night, which is a bad sign. Nothing to panic about but with Warren battling Rico Dowdle for reps and Johnson fighting to make the team, these errors are magnified.
Even as a seventh-round rookie, nothing seems too big for safety Robert Spears-Jennings. On Saturday, the team asked him to move to slot cornerback and he did so without hesitation. It really feels like the rookie is being set up for a fairly significant role on defense this season.

#saturday #night #practice #move

This article originally appeared on SteelersNOW.com.
The Pittsburgh Steelers running back position in 2026 will almost certainly be dominated by a combination of returning starter Jaylen Warren and 1,000-yard free agent addition Rico Dowdle.
But how exactly the starts, playing time and touches will be distributed between the backs still feels very much up in the air as we enter the third week of training camp.
Both backs started for their teams last year, with Warren starting 16 games for the Steelers and Dowdle making 11 starts for the Carolina Panthers. Both backs led their team in rushing: Warren had 958 in 16 games for the Steelers and Dowdle rushed for 1,076 yards in 17 games in Carolina.
Click here to read more on SteelersNOW.com.

#steelers #dowdle #carolina #jaylen

The Steelers have released their first depth chart of the season and it does not include running back Rico Dowdle among the starters.
Some might have expected the Steelers to go with a dual listing of Jaylen Warren and Dowdle at the top of their backfield, but the Steelers have opted to go with Warren as the No. 1 and Dowdle as the No. 2. Dowdle signed a two-year contract with the team as a free agent this offseason while Warren is in his fifth year with the team.
The listing could remain the same into the regular season, but the Steelers are planning on roles for both backs and that could make their standing on the depth chart a moot point come the fall.
Another spot that has been closely watched this offseason is backup quarterback and the Steelers list Mason Rudolph ahead of Will Howard for the spot behind Aaron Rodgers. Third-round pick Drew Allar is listed at the fourth spot and his draft position makes him likely to make the team, so the Steelers could be parting ways with whoever loses out for the No. 2s spot on the depth chart.

#dowdle #depth #team #year

A troublesome reality is staring down Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, who is seemingly primed for a smaller role in 2026.
Per Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Rico Dowdle has emerged as the RB1 early in training camp, which isn't exactly great news for Warren heading into Year 5.
"Now 4 practices into camp, a couple of offensive depth chart declarations seem clear: Rico Dowdle is RB1 over Jaylen Warren, Roman Wilson is WR3 (well ahead of Germie Bernard)," Adamski wrote via X.
Warren spent the first three seasons of his career behind Najee Harris as a solid RB2 before emerging as the starting running back in 2025. Over the past four seasons, Warren has recorded 3,859 yards from scrimmage and 14 total touchdowns, including an impressive career average of 5.3 yards per touch.
Dowdle, who previously spent time with new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy on the Dallas Cowboys, is on the verge of history heading into 2026, as he could become the first running back to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with three different teams.

#pittsburgh #jaylen

Last season, 17 NFL running backs rushed for at least 1,000 yards and it further illustrates that the value of the running back position is increasing across the league. Having said that, the number of true feature backs in the league who don't split carries with another back and are the workhorse are somewhat rare.
This trait is what sets these 12 backs from the rest. Guys who carry the water for their respective team's rushing attacks, impact the passing game and rarely come off the field. As for the Pittsburgh Steelers running back tandem of Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, they are talented backs and should do well this season but don't crack this list.
No back in the NFL brings what Bijan Robinson does in the NFL. Robinson played a league-best 860 snaps and is the true workhorse back in the league. Robinson just glides with the football and his effortless in making big plays. The Falcons will once again run everything through Robinson as he maintains his spot as the best back in the NFL.
Gibbs takes the No. 2 spot here because he's so electric with football in his hands and is one of the best in the league at taking over games when the Lions need him. We actually expect Gibbs to improve on his 1,223 rushing yards in 2025.
If Christian McCaffrey could stay healthy for a full season, he might be the No. 1 back in the NFL. However, when he's on the field, he's lightning in a bottle and maybe the best dual-threat running abck in the league.

Running backs frequently make or break fantasy seasons. Drafting one bargain improves playoff odds. Drafting two improves ******* le odds. Here are three of the biggest RB fantasy bargains in the AFC North based on average draft position (ADP).
The Derrick Henry era doesn’t appear to be winding down, at least statistically. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer pulled a Tom Brady of sorts: moving to a new team late in his career and then posting some of the best numbers of his career. He’s been a perfect fit in Baltimore. He’s also had six 300+ touch campaigns these past seven years and endured his worst broken-tackle rate last season.
Some might ignore it all and say, “He’s Derrick Henry. That’s all I need to know.” But at some point in aging players’ careers, their backups deserve better value. The market disagrees. Longtime Raven Justice Hill has an RB70 ADP. Teammate Rasheen Ali is sitting at RB80. Fifth-round rookie Adam Randall (RB83) was a converted wide receiver who amassed only 172 carries in college.
Even with Henry on full blast in 2025, Hill was the RB57 in points per game, while teammate Keaton Mitchell was the RB74. So if Henry remains a 17-game monster workhorse (i.e., no injuries), we should ******* ume that Hill and/or Ali will finish better than their ADPs. Both also are lottery tickets if Henry is forced to miss time. Essentially, Hill and Ali are nothing-to-lose bargains with significant upside if they’re thrust into more prominent roles.
Is Kaleb Johnson finished in the NFL after only one season? Of course not. The 2025 third-rounder had a major letdown last year. He was coming off a 262-touch college campaign that nearly doubled his career total. Now he’s operating behind entrenched #1 or co-#1 Jaylen Warren and free-agent signing Rico Dowdle. Johnson’s ADP is all the way down at RB105. It’s not uncommon for things to start clicking for Day 2 picks in Year 2 or beyond. Johnson still has time to get going.

One of the Pittsburgh Steelers' biggest moves this offseason, signing multiple-time 1,000 yard rusher Rico Dowdle, is flying under the radar as we inch closer to training camp.
From now to the start of the regular season, we at Steelers Wire will be ***** yzing every player on the roster. Here's a look at Dowdle and what could be in store for his 2026 season.
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 28

NFL Week 18 could be considerably lucrative for players with incentive-based contracts, including Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers standout Keenan Allen.
Darnold could hit a $1 million jackpot with three touchdown passes and 150 yards passing against the San Francisco 49ers in a battle for the NFC West. Darnold has 3,850 yards through the air and 25 touchdowns with notable escalators in his contract.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle is active for the finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which means he ca

With most season-long Fantasy leagues now complete, daily Fantasy football takes an even bigger spotlight during the Week 18 NFL schedule. The first slate comes on Saturday as Panthers vs. Buccaneers (-2.5, 44) is a 4:30 p.m. ET and Seahawks vs. 49ers (+1.5, 49.5) is at 8 p.m. ET. Both games carry heavy implications for the NFL playoff picture, so you don't have to worry about starters resting or teams holding back on this slate.
With big names like Christian McCaffrey, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rico Dowdle and Bucky Irving in the NFL DFS player pool, how should you craft your NFL DFS lineups? Befo